. >>> in just about an hour, the bitter battle to confirm chuck hagel as defense secretary could come to an end. for the first time in history the senate filibustered his nomination, holding up his conversation for more than a week. but some of his most vocal opponents now say they will support the former republican senator. lawmakers will vote at noon. if they end the filibuster, a final vote to confirm hagel could immediately follow. >> mr. chairman, final tally is 19 ayes including proxies, and 5 nays. >> ayes have it. the nomination is recorded. >> and just like that, the senate finance committee gave the thumbs up for treasury secretary nominee jack lew. the panel voted overwhelmingly to approve the nomination, sending the vote now no the senate floor. most recently, lew was president obama's chief of staff and would succeed timothy geithner if approved. >>> baeren bernanke is in the middle of testifying to the senate banking committee. the federal reserve chairman talked about how the economy is slowly but surely improving. he also discussed the impending sequestration and said